When Black Coffee won a Grammy Award in 2022, he thanked God for the gift of music and for allowing him to share it with the world. He also thanked his team, his family, and his children. One person he recognised was David Guetta, who believed in working with him when he was still a lesser-known artist. His speech reminds us that behind every successful entertainer, there are often people who believe in their talent before the world recognises it. Trevor Noah dedicated his best TV host award to his mother, Patricia, in 2017, describing her as someone who did not allow other people’s doubts to limit what she could become.
When the big moment finally comes, who is crying harder? The entertainer who made it, or the friend who has been saying “I told you so” since day one? More importantly, who deserves a thank you speech? The person who stayed through the broken days and “Please share my post” messages, or the person chasing the dream? When we see an up-and-coming entertainer, whether it be a comedian, painter, musician or footballer, we tend to focus on their talent or hard work. But behind that talent there is always someone who believed, encouraged, and sacrificed for them. These supporters may not appear on stage or receive recognition, but they form part of the journey that takes place before an entertainer’s breakthrough. Support may take many forms: it can be the boyfriend who makes time to attend a show despite their busy schedule, or the friend who reposts and shares your videos online. These gestures may seem small, but they can mean a great deal to someone still trying to find their place in a competitive industry.
The researcher F.J. Zarza Alzugaray studied 359 students in Spain to understand the importance of social support. The study found that support from family members, friends, and teachers can help with anxiety and boost confidence. This shows that supporting up-and-coming entertainers is not only about money or helping them promote their work, but it is also psychological. Such support can help build resilience against anxiety, depression, and can boost positive emotions.
When spending time supporting someone else’s dream, are you simply standing in the background, or are you learning what it takes to build something of your own? Supporting someone else’s ambitions does not mean we have abandoned our own. We may be learning, building relationships, or discovering an ambition we have not yet pursued. For example, before becoming a household name, Kim Kardashian supported Paris Hilton by working as a closet organiser and stylist. Sometimes supporting someone else can help you gain experience, knowledge, and connections that may lead you to discover your own path.
It might be your annoying boyfriend who keeps telling you, “Babe, it will work out one day”, or maybe that delusional friend who’s always on the bench but keeps inviting you to their match games. Supporting someone requires emotional energy and time, and sometimes you may feel overlooked or uncertain about your own direction.
After interviewing people about whether they have supported someone before or how they define support, a pattern began to emerge. Only two out of every five people seemed to have a clear understanding of what support means. This raises an interesting question: are we slowly becoming a generation that struggles to support one another? Perhaps this is influenced by the growing main-character mentality, whereby everyone wants to be the main character in their own story. As a result, we may overlook the importance of helping others grow because we become so focused on our own success and recognition.
There is an African saying that goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Let us put this into practice in our everyday lives. When your younger brother asks for help with his mathematics project, help him. When that shy friend asks you to accompany them to the shop, go with them. When that little girl who sometimes gets on your nerves asks for money to go attend her match, make room for her. It is these small moments and simple acts of kindness that help build a supportive and safe environment where people feel comfortable, valued, and confident enough to grow into their abilities. You may never know how much your support might mean to someone or how far it might take them. To those who always support our up-and-coming entertainers, remember that we appreciate you, we see you, and we acknowledge the role you play in other people’s lives. Keep showing up, keep doing the good work – your time will come.
Visual: Saahirah
